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Thursday, October 8, 2009
Modeling
It’s a common misconception that naturally beautiful models take naturally beautiful photographs. The truth is—without modeling poses and modeling tips, perfect photographs are harder than you think.
So you think you have what it takes? 
If you are a professional model, a photographer will most likely guide you through a variety of model poses throughout the photo shoot. But if you are an inspiring model and are still working your way up to the top—you may have to control your poses to ensure great headshots and sample modeling photographs.
Live show models, promo models, photographic models, and runway models all rely on professional model poses to succeed. Whether you aspire to appear in print magazines or fashion shows and Hollywood movies; if you want to be a model, pay special attention to this insider guide to modeling poses.
Breathe
Although sometimes concentration enhances a good photograph, obvious concentration can distract and often ruin a good photograph as well. Do not hold your breath for a modeling pose; always remember to breathe and appear at ease.
Posture
Bad posture is an unrecognized flaw in many people. However, for models, posture is a harmful flaw. Always remember to keep your back straight and your shoulders up. Slouching affects the mood of the photograph and enlarges the appearances of your stomach. In addition to your back and shoulders, always remember to flex your stomach muscles. Despite your weight or state of shape, your abdomen will appear more toned if you flex.
Limbs
Camera
Although the camera is the ultimate focal point of a modeling photo shoot, great models do not look directly into the camera. To enhance the quality of your photo shoot, look away from the camera with a mix of head and eye poses. Looking off to the right or left side, or tiling your neck to either side can help you avoid direct eye contact with the camera. In many cases, your head and neck can remain stationary in your modeling pose—and your eyes can do all the work. Head and eye positions, coupled with personable facial expressions make for great model poses.
Sitting Poses
If you are sitting down during your photo shoot—don’t think it’s ok to slack off. In fact, sitting photo shoots require a lot of extra work. If you are sitting down or reclining, it’s important to put your eight on the back of one thigh, rather than distributing your weight equally on both thighs. If you roll one hip up from the ground or surface, shifting your weight will be simple. This pose results in a slimming effect that you don’t want to miss out on.
Cleavage:
To make sure your best assets shine, there are a few basic guidelines to follow. Based on two distinct poses, a forward lean and a backward lean, any model with any breast size can maximize cleavage. When leaning forward, either bring your arms together at your waist, keep your arms straight at the elbows and clasp your hands together below your waist, or simply cross your arms. When leaning backward, raise your arms about your shoulders and head, keep your arms apart, and always slouch for the best cleavage results. Smile
If you have a naturally beautiful smile—show your pearly whites with pride, just not every time. If you smile in each modeling pose, modeling agents will notice your lack of versatility, not your smile. To add variety to your modeling poses, try switching up your smile with a cute frown, a bratty bout, a friendly laugh, or even an edgy scowl. Your facial expressions can make or break your modeling poses. Let your smile show, but make sure to show what else you can do.
In addition to these personalized tips for modeling poses, every model should be aware of the basics of posing. There are 4 main types of model poses: lifestyle pose, movement pose, portrait pose, and body pose.
Lifestyle
The lifestyle pose evokes a sense of everyday living with common body movements and facial expressions. Throughout the day, moments of happiness, love, anger, and hope arise. To succeed at the lifestyle pose, each model must be able to recreate these everyday emotions.
The movement pose captures a specific action, such as running or jumping. Because this pose is most often used for a marketing photo shoot—the model is used to promote a product. Each model must be able to smile and laugh when using the products in the photo shoot.
Portrait
This modeling pose emphasizes the face of the model—and relies purely on facial features. The model will be in modest makeup and relaxed hair and should pose with a casual, genuine smile. Many portrait photographs are close up and emphasize details of the model’s face. If you are scheduled for a portrait photo shoot, make sure to pay extra attention to your skin and drink at least 8-12 glasses of water a day.
Body
Full-length photographs require body poses. Models are encouraged to shift weight between hips and make arms and lengths into asymmetrical stances. Although many body poses do not require specific facial expressions, putting your entire body into character during full-length poses helps your body find a natural balance.
Keep these insider model posing tips in mind during your next professional model photo shoot to ensure you blow the photographer away. Whether you’re a trained expert or an ambitious beginner, all models have the ability to excel in photo shoots. Focus on your posture, attitude, and facial expressions to succeed beyond your wildest expectations.
-Always go prepared : ie...clothing changes that you know will fit you. Don't always think that he/she will have everything that is needed for the shoot.
-Always take your own make-up; even if he/she has told you there will be a make-up artist there. Always think of the could be's.
-Get as many references as you can. That would include other models and/or assignments that the photographer has had. Check and double check. And be sure that a legitimate photographer is doing the same with you. Never take anything for granted.
-Get phone numbers and addresses if possible, if he/she is hesitant. You might want to rethink the shoot.
-Make sure that you know exactly what the shoot consist of, and never feel pressured to do anything that you do not feel comfortable doing. If nothing else go by your gut feeling.
-There should always be a modeling agreement"release" signed before the shoot, some might prefer after. As long as you get one it should be ok. Make sure in the agreement that you have knowledge of where and how your images are going to be displayed. Try to have full say in this.... If at all possible.
-Don't ever do anything that you might be sorry for later. What you do today can affect your career later down the road. "If you pose for a photo that you cannot show your family and friends, and be proud of it, it wasn't worth doing". Mainly YOU should be proud of it.
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-Remember your body is yours, and if anyone comes within your safety zone, be sure to let them know. I have found that more reputable photographer's will NOT touch you. If you feel uncomfortable as stated before, tell them so. That is your right.
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In the world of modeling, Latin models have long been considered very big attractions.
Not everyone can become professional models, that much is true. Some may have the same physical attributes as the world’s top supermodels have. Some may be as tall as Nigerian supermodel Oluchi Onweagba, or as gorgeous as any of the Latin supermodels who have taken the modeling world by storm. But in very much the same way that not all good basketball players make it to the NBA, not all good-looking men and women can break into the world of professional modeling. That’s just the way the cookie crumbles. But don’t let your modeling dreams crumble just because you’ll never make it to the runways of Milan, Paris, London and New York. There are other more viable options, and all of them are just within reach. By getting into the world of amateur modeling, you’ll get to live out all your modeling fantasies, and more!
-Always go prepared : ie...clothing changes that you know will fit you. Don't always think that he/she will have everything that is needed for the shoot.
-Always take your own make-up; even if he/she has told you there will be a make-up artist there. Always think of the could be's.
-Get as many references as you can. That would include other models and/or assignments that the photographer has had. Check and double check. And be sure that a legitimate photographer is doing the same with you. Never take anything for granted.
-Get phone numbers and addresses if possible, if he/she is hesitant. You might want to rethink the shoot.
-Make sure that you know exactly what the shoot consist of, and never feel pressured to do anything that you do not feel comfortable doing. If nothing else go by your gut feeling.
-There should always be a modeling agreement"release" signed before the shoot, some might prefer after. As long as you get one it should be ok. Make sure in the agreement that you have knowledge of where and how your images are going to be displayed. Try to have full say in this.... If at all possible.
-Don't ever do anything that you might be sorry for later. What you do today can affect your career later down the road. "If you pose for a photo that you cannot show your family and friends, and be proud of it, it wasn't worth doing". Mainly YOU should be proud of it.
-Remember your body is yours, and if anyone comes within your safety zone, be sure to let them know. I have found that more reputable photographer's will NOT touch you. If you feel uncomfortable as stated before, tell them so. That is your right.-Time for Prints is just that, your time in exchange for prints.
-Always present yourself in a very professional manner whether it be your first or 100th shoot.
-Keep your portfolio updated with new looks etc. We all change from time to time, never present yourself as something that you are not.
-Remember there are modeling opportunities for almost everyone. Make sure that you fit into the one that best suits you and your goals. Marketing today is very diversified, different looks, shapes, sizes, ages, etc.
-Ambition. A model goes after her goals. You won't become a model by sitting at home and waiting for agents to come to you! (Note: Never sign with the first agency you visit. Always go to at least five before making a Decision!)
Not everyone can become professional models, that much is true. Some may have the same physical attributes as the world’s top supermodels have. Some may be as tall as Nigerian supermodel Oluchi Onweagba, or as gorgeous as any of the Latin supermodels who have taken the modeling world by storm. But in very much the same way that not all good basketball players make it to the NBA, not all good-looking men and women can break into the world of professional modeling. That’s just the way the cookie crumbles. But don’t let your modeling dreams crumble just because you’ll never make it to the runways of Milan, Paris, London and New York. There are other more viable options, and all of them are just within reach. By getting into the world of amateur modeling, you’ll get to live out all your modeling fantasies, and more!
Friday, October 2, 2009
HAGAMOS ESTA ORACIÓN POR TODOS LOS ENFERMOS DE CÁNCER:
Querido Señor y Padre nuestro . Estamos Rezando por la cura del Cáncer,
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y Te Pedimos Señor que nos ayudes, y nos des la fuerza para que esta oración vaya con todo amor y esperanza, para ayudar a todas las personas que nos encontremos con este mal y para los que no lo tenemos no nos vaya a llegar.
Amigos y Amigas les pido que no dejen de hacer circular esta vela.
Y dejamos en manos de NUESTRO SEÑOR, SUS BENDICIONES.
Amén...
October: Breast Cancer Awareness Month
y Te Pedimos Señor que nos ayudes, y nos des la fuerza para que esta oración vaya con todo amor y esperanza, para ayudar a todas las personas que nos encontremos con este mal y para los que no lo tenemos no nos vaya a llegar. Te lo pedimos Señor,con todo el amor que tu deseas siempre para todos nosotros.
Amigos y Amigas les pido que no dejen de hacer circular esta vela.
Y dejamos en manos de NUESTRO SEÑOR, SUS BENDICIONES.
Amén...
October: Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Eating Fruits
We all think eating fruits means just buying fruits, cutting it and just popping it into our mouths. It's not as easy as you think.. It's important to know how and when to eat.
What is the correct way of eating fruits?
IT MEANS NOT EATING FRUITS AFTER YOUR MEALS! FRUITS SHOULD BE EATEN ON AN EMPTY STOMACH.
If you eat fruit like that, it will play a major role to detoxify your system, supplying you with a great deal of energy for weight loss and other life activities.
FRUIT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FOOD. Let's say you eat two slices of bread and then a slice of fruit. The slice of fruit is ready to go straight through the stomach into the intestines, but it is prevented from doing so. In the meantime the whole meal rots and ferments and turns to acid. The minute the fruit comes into contact with the food in the stomach and digestive juices, the entire mass of food begins to spoil.
So please eat your fruits on an empty stomach or before your meals! You have heard people complaining - every time I eat watermelon I burp, when I eat durian my stomach bloats up, when I eat a banana I feel like running to the toilet etc - actually all this will not arise if you eat the fruit on an empty stomach. The fruit mixes with the putrefying other food and produces gas and hence you will bloat!
Graying hair, balding, nervous outburst, and dark circles under the eyes all these will not happen if you take fruits on an empty stomach.
There is no such thing as some fruits, like orange and lemon are acidic, because all fruits become alkaline in our body, according to Dr. Herbert Shelton who did research on this matter. If you have mastered the correct way of eating fruits, you have the Secret of beauty, longevity, health, energy, happiness and normal weight. When you need to drink fruit juice - drink only fresh fruit juice, NOT from the cans. Don't even drink juice that has been heated up.. Don't eat cooked fruits because you don't get the nutrients at all. You only get to taste. Cooking destroys all the vitamins. But eating a whole fruit is better than drinking the juice. If you should drink the juice, drink it mouthful by mouthful slowly, because you must let it mix with your saliva before swallowing it.. You can go on a 3-day fruit fast to cleanse your body. Just eat fruits and drink fruit juice throughout the 3 days and you will be surprised when your friends tell you how radiant you look!
KIWI: Tiny but mighty. This is a good source of potassium, magnesium, vitamin E & fiber. Its vitamin C content is twice that of an orange.
APPLE: An apple a day keeps the doctor away? Although an apple has a low vitamin C content, it has antioxidants & flavonoids which enhances the activity of vitamin C thereby helping to lower the risks of colon cancer, heart attack & stroke.
STRAWBERRY: Protective Fruit. Strawberries have the highest total antioxidant power among major fruits & protect the body from cancer-causing, blood vessel-clogging free radicals..
ORANGE : Sweetest medicine. Taking 2-4 oranges a day may help keep colds away, lower cholesterol, prevent & dissolve kidney stones as well as lessens the risk of colon cancer.
WATERMELON: Coolest thirst quencher. Composed of 92% water, it is also packed with a giant dose of glutathione, which helps boost our immune system. They are also a key source of lycopene - the cancer fighting oxidant. Other nutrients found in watermelon are vitamin C & Potassium.
GUAVA & PAPAYA: Top awards for vitamin C. They are the clear winners for their high vitamin C content. Guava is also rich in fiber, which helps prevent constipation. Papaya is rich in carotene; this is good for your eyes.
=============================================
Drinking Cold water after a meal = Cancer! Can you believe this? For those who like to drink cold water, this article is applicable to you. It is nice to have a cup of cold drink after a meal. However, the cold water will solidify the oily stuff that you have just consumed. It will slow down the digestion. Once this 'sludge' reacts with the acid, it will break down and be absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food. It will line the intestine. Very soon, this will turn into fats and lead to cancer. It is best to drink hot soup,warm water or warm beer after a meal.
A serious note about heart attacks HEART ATTACK PROCEDURE': (THIS IS NOT A JOKE!) Women should know that not every heart attack symptom is going to be the left arm hurting. Be aware of intense pain in the jaw line.. You may never have the first chest pain during the course of a heart attack . Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms.. Sixty percent of people who have a heart attack while they are asleep do not wake up. Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let's be careful and be aware. The more we know the better chance we could survive...
What is the correct way of eating fruits?
IT MEANS NOT EATING FRUITS AFTER YOUR MEALS! FRUITS SHOULD BE EATEN ON AN EMPTY STOMACH.
If you eat fruit like that, it will play a major role to detoxify your system, supplying you with a great deal of energy for weight loss and other life activities.
FRUIT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FOOD. Let's say you eat two slices of bread and then a slice of fruit. The slice of fruit is ready to go straight through the stomach into the intestines, but it is prevented from doing so. In the meantime the whole meal rots and ferments and turns to acid. The minute the fruit comes into contact with the food in the stomach and digestive juices, the entire mass of food begins to spoil.
So please eat your fruits on an empty stomach or before your meals! You have heard people complaining - every time I eat watermelon I burp, when I eat durian my stomach bloats up, when I eat a banana I feel like running to the toilet etc - actually all this will not arise if you eat the fruit on an empty stomach. The fruit mixes with the putrefying other food and produces gas and hence you will bloat!
Graying hair, balding, nervous outburst, and dark circles under the eyes all these will not happen if you take fruits on an empty stomach.
There is no such thing as some fruits, like orange and lemon are acidic, because all fruits become alkaline in our body, according to Dr. Herbert Shelton who did research on this matter. If you have mastered the correct way of eating fruits, you have the Secret of beauty, longevity, health, energy, happiness and normal weight. When you need to drink fruit juice - drink only fresh fruit juice, NOT from the cans. Don't even drink juice that has been heated up.. Don't eat cooked fruits because you don't get the nutrients at all. You only get to taste. Cooking destroys all the vitamins. But eating a whole fruit is better than drinking the juice. If you should drink the juice, drink it mouthful by mouthful slowly, because you must let it mix with your saliva before swallowing it.. You can go on a 3-day fruit fast to cleanse your body. Just eat fruits and drink fruit juice throughout the 3 days and you will be surprised when your friends tell you how radiant you look!
KIWI: Tiny but mighty. This is a good source of potassium, magnesium, vitamin E & fiber. Its vitamin C content is twice that of an orange.
APPLE: An apple a day keeps the doctor away? Although an apple has a low vitamin C content, it has antioxidants & flavonoids which enhances the activity of vitamin C thereby helping to lower the risks of colon cancer, heart attack & stroke.
STRAWBERRY: Protective Fruit. Strawberries have the highest total antioxidant power among major fruits & protect the body from cancer-causing, blood vessel-clogging free radicals..
ORANGE : Sweetest medicine. Taking 2-4 oranges a day may help keep colds away, lower cholesterol, prevent & dissolve kidney stones as well as lessens the risk of colon cancer.
WATERMELON: Coolest thirst quencher. Composed of 92% water, it is also packed with a giant dose of glutathione, which helps boost our immune system. They are also a key source of lycopene - the cancer fighting oxidant. Other nutrients found in watermelon are vitamin C & Potassium.
GUAVA & PAPAYA: Top awards for vitamin C. They are the clear winners for their high vitamin C content. Guava is also rich in fiber, which helps prevent constipation. Papaya is rich in carotene; this is good for your eyes.
=============================================
Drinking Cold water after a meal = Cancer! Can you believe this? For those who like to drink cold water, this article is applicable to you. It is nice to have a cup of cold drink after a meal. However, the cold water will solidify the oily stuff that you have just consumed. It will slow down the digestion. Once this 'sludge' reacts with the acid, it will break down and be absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food. It will line the intestine. Very soon, this will turn into fats and lead to cancer. It is best to drink hot soup,warm water or warm beer after a meal.
A serious note about heart attacks HEART ATTACK PROCEDURE': (THIS IS NOT A JOKE!) Women should know that not every heart attack symptom is going to be the left arm hurting. Be aware of intense pain in the jaw line.. You may never have the first chest pain during the course of a heart attack . Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms.. Sixty percent of people who have a heart attack while they are asleep do not wake up. Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let's be careful and be aware. The more we know the better chance we could survive...
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
A PERSPECTIVE ABOUT OLD BARNS
Only years of standing in the weather, bearing the storms and scorching sun, only that can produce beautiful barn wood.
He wanted to buy the old barn that sits out by the highway. I told him right off he was crazy.
He was a city type, you could tell by his clothes, his car, his hands, and the way he talked.
The summer sun's beat down on that old barn till all the paint's gone, and the wood has turned silver gray.
Now the old building leans a good deal, looking kind of tired. Yet, that fellow called it beautiful.
He said he was driving by and saw that beautiful barn sitting out in the tall grass and wanted to know if it was for sale.
I told him he had a funny idea of beauty.
The stranger said he planned to use the lumber to line the walls of his den in a new country home he's building down the road.
He said you couldn't get paint that beautiful.
Only years of standing in the weather, bearing the storms and scorching sun, only that can produce beautiful barn wood.
Only it's on the inside that the beauty grows with us. Sure we turn silver gray too... and lean a bit more than
we did when we were young and full of sap. But the Good Lord knows what He's doing.
And as the years pass He's busy using the hard weather of our lives, the dry spells and the stormy seasons to do a job of beautifying our souls that nothing else can produce.
And to think how often folks holler because they want life easy!
to beautify a rich man's house. And I reckon someday you and I'll be hauled off to Heaven to take on whatever chores the Good Lord has for us on the Great Sky Ranch.
And I suspect we'll be more beautiful then for the seasons we've been through here... and just maybe even add a bit of beauty to our Father's house.
A stranger came by the other day with an offer that set me to thinking.
He wanted to buy the old barn that sits out by the highway. I told him right off he was crazy.
He was a city type, you could tell by his clothes, his car, his hands, and the way he talked.
Sure, it was a handsome building in its day.
But then, there's been a lot of winters pass with their snow and ice and howling wind.The summer sun's beat down on that old barn till all the paint's gone, and the wood has turned silver gray.
Now the old building leans a good deal, looking kind of tired. Yet, that fellow called it beautiful.
He said he was driving by and saw that beautiful barn sitting out in the tall grass and wanted to know if it was for sale.
I told him he had a funny idea of beauty.
That set me to thinking.
I walked out to the field and just stood there, gazing at that old barn.The stranger said he planned to use the lumber to line the walls of his den in a new country home he's building down the road.
He said you couldn't get paint that beautiful.
Only years of standing in the weather, bearing the storms and scorching sun, only that can produce beautiful barn wood.
It came to me then. We're a lot like that, you and me.
Only it's on the inside that the beauty grows with us. Sure we turn silver gray too... and lean a bit more than
we did when we were young and full of sap. But the Good Lord knows what He's doing.
And as the years pass He's busy using the hard weather of our lives, the dry spells and the stormy seasons to do a job of beautifying our souls that nothing else can produce.
And to think how often folks holler because they want life easy!
They took the old barn down today and hauled it away
to beautify a rich man's house. And I reckon someday you and I'll be hauled off to Heaven to take on whatever chores the Good Lord has for us on the Great Sky Ranch.
And I suspect we'll be more beautiful then for the seasons we've been through here... and just maybe even add a bit of beauty to our Father's house.
May there be peace within you today.
May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
And...I do sincerely Thank God for my wonderful friends and family who love me even though I show signs of weathering. : )
Friday, September 25, 2009
One Flaw in Women
Women have strengths that amaze men.
They bear hardships and they carry burdens,
They don't take "no" for an answer
family and friends.
Women have vital things to say
and everything to give.
HOWEVER, IF THERE IS ONE FLAW IN WOMEN,
IT IS THAT THEY FORGET THEIR WORTH.
They bear hardships and they carry burdens,
but they hold happiness, love and joy.
They smile when they want to scream.
They sing when they want to cry.
They cry when they are happy
and laugh when they are nervous.
They fight for what they believe in.
They stand up to injustice.
They don't take "no" for an answer when they believe there is a better solution.
They go without so their family can have.
They go to the doctor with a frightened friend.
They love unconditionally.
They cry when their children excel
and cheer when their friends get awards.
They are happy when they hear about
a birth or a wedding.
Their hearts break when a friend dies.
They grieve at the loss of a family member,
yet they are strong when they
think there is no strength left...
They know that a hug and a kiss
can heal a broken heart.
Women come in all shapes, sizes and colors.
They'll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you
to show how much they care about you.
The heart of a woman is what
makes the world keep turning.
They bring joy, hope and love.
They have compassion and ideas.
They give moral support to their family and friends.
Women have vital things to say
and everything to give.
HOWEVER, IF THERE IS ONE FLAW IN WOMEN,
IT IS THAT THEY FORGET THEIR WORTH.
Between Friends
Sometimes in life,
you find a special friend;
Someone who changes your life
just by being part of it.
Someone who makes you laugh
until you can't stop;
until you can't stop;
Someone who makes you believe
that there really is good in the world.
Someone who convinces you
that there really is an unlocked door
just waiting for you to open it.
Friday, September 18, 2009
What has this "world" come to??? Know your rights!
Florida lawsuit: Abusive debt collector calls killed husband:
Tampa, Florida-Stanley McLeod was a man family members say always tried to pay his bills on time.
But, after a massive heart attack, the Sears employee had to quit work and fell behind on his mortgage payment, prompting calls from a debt collector.
"There were about ten to twelve calls a day," says Stanley's wife, Dianne McLeod.
But the calls were far from ordinary. In fact, a first of its kind lawsuit filed by Tampa based law firm Morgan and Morgan alleges the company's calls were so frequent and harassing, McLeod's blood pressure and stress levels shot through the roof, enough to ultimately contribute to his death.
"He'd get very red in the face and short of breath," recalls Mrs. McLeod of the calls her husband would often take while she was at work. "I believe it contributed to his death, I really do."
The McLeod's saved tapes with some of the messages left on their home answering machine. A male debt collector can be heard commenting on the expensive helicopter ride that saved Stanley's life:
"Get your act together and make the payments on your mortgage. Why don't you have that helicopter pick you up and bring that payment to the office."
That recording eventually made its way to Tampa attorney Billy Howard, who heads the consumer protection unit of Florida mega firm Morgan and Morgan.
"They don't care, they just want to make money," said Howard, who says his office has started receiving hundreds of complaints about overly aggressive debt collectors. "No one has held them accountable."
Morgan and Morgan is among a growing list of law firms focusing their attention on debt collection abuse. The company has even produced a commercial urging potential clients to save answering machine recordings if an aggressive debt collector calls.
"It's time to fight back against the banks and debt collectors and make them responsible for their conduct," Howard says. "The way to stop them is in the pocketbook."
The McLeod case is not an isolated one. Howard provided us with a CD full of similar calls, many containing profane language and even racial slurs.
In one of the calls, the debt collector can be heard calling a man the "n-word" after threatening to dig deep into his background.
Howard says while debt collection companies have every right to go after money owed to banks and other companies, a Florida law protects consumers from calls considered harassing.
"You have to do it in a nice manner, period," says Howard, who adds most Floridians don't know their rights in these type cases.
He also adds, in some cases, people don't even owe money, and are either victims of identity theft or mistakes on the part of the collection agency.
"These people are innocent, and they can't get the calls to stop," Howard says.
On one of Howard's cases from July, he says, a debt collector called the best friend of a woman suggesting the friend had died. Ericka Cartagena of Winter Springs says her friend frantically called her brother, throwing her entire family into a panic when they couldn't reach her by phone.
"Everyone thought I was dead!" said an angry Cartagena who, to this day, has no idea why the debt collection company called. She is making payments on a used car, but says she previously made all her payments on time.
She and her attorney believe the statement suggesting her death may have been a mistake, but is often a deliberate attempt by collection companies to prompt an immediate call back from unsuspecting family members.
"To use something like that against somebody is the most egregious collection abuse that is imaginable," Howard says.
A spokesperson for the debt collection industry says he believes cases involving harassment are isolated.
"I think it's the rare exception. Every customer has the right to be treated with dignity and respect," says spokesman Adam Peterman, director of government affairs for the Association of Credit and Collection Professionals (ACA).
But Dianne McLeod says her husband, while still alive, was treated with anything but dignity and respect.
"They humiliated him, they harassed him, and they didn't care," says McLeod. "You know that if things had been handled differently by this company, he may still be here."
Now, she wants to collect, from the company she blames for harassing her husband to death.
In one of the calls, the debt collector can be heard calling a man the "n-word" after threatening to dig deep into his background.
Howard says while debt collection companies have every right to go after money owed to banks and other companies, a Florida law protects consumers from calls considered harassing.
"You have to do it in a nice manner, period," says Howard, who adds most Floridians don't know their rights in these type cases.
He also adds, in some cases, people don't even owe money, and are either victims of identity theft or mistakes on the part of the collection agency.
"These people are innocent, and they can't get the calls to stop," Howard says.
On one of Howard's cases from July, he says, a debt collector called the best friend of a woman suggesting the friend had died. Ericka Cartagena of Winter Springs says her friend frantically called her brother, throwing her entire family into a panic when they couldn't reach her by phone.
"Everyone thought I was dead!" said an angry Cartagena who, to this day, has no idea why the debt collection company called. She is making payments on a used car, but says she previously made all her payments on time.
She and her attorney believe the statement suggesting her death may have been a mistake, but is often a deliberate attempt by collection companies to prompt an immediate call back from unsuspecting family members.
"To use something like that against somebody is the most egregious collection abuse that is imaginable," Howard says.
A spokesperson for the debt collection industry says he believes cases involving harassment are isolated.
"I think it's the rare exception. Every customer has the right to be treated with dignity and respect," says spokesman Adam Peterman, director of government affairs for the Association of Credit and Collection Professionals (ACA).
But Dianne McLeod says her husband, while still alive, was treated with anything but dignity and respect.
"They humiliated him, they harassed him, and they didn't care," says McLeod. "You know that if things had been handled differently by this company, he may still be here."
Now, she wants to collect, from the company she blames for harassing her husband to death.
Tampa, Florida-Stanley McLeod was a man family members say always tried to pay his bills on time.
But, after a massive heart attack, the Sears employee had to quit work and fell behind on his mortgage payment, prompting calls from a debt collector.
"There were about ten to twelve calls a day," says Stanley's wife, Dianne McLeod.
But the calls were far from ordinary. In fact, a first of its kind lawsuit filed by Tampa based law firm Morgan and Morgan alleges the company's calls were so frequent and harassing, McLeod's blood pressure and stress levels shot through the roof, enough to ultimately contribute to his death.
"He'd get very red in the face and short of breath," recalls Mrs. McLeod of the calls her husband would often take while she was at work. "I believe it contributed to his death, I really do."
The McLeod's saved tapes with some of the messages left on their home answering machine. A male debt collector can be heard commenting on the expensive helicopter ride that saved Stanley's life:
"Get your act together and make the payments on your mortgage. Why don't you have that helicopter pick you up and bring that payment to the office."
That recording eventually made its way to Tampa attorney Billy Howard, who heads the consumer protection unit of Florida mega firm Morgan and Morgan.
"They don't care, they just want to make money," said Howard, who says his office has started receiving hundreds of complaints about overly aggressive debt collectors. "No one has held them accountable."
Morgan and Morgan is among a growing list of law firms focusing their attention on debt collection abuse. The company has even produced a commercial urging potential clients to save answering machine recordings if an aggressive debt collector calls.
"It's time to fight back against the banks and debt collectors and make them responsible for their conduct," Howard says. "The way to stop them is in the pocketbook."
The McLeod case is not an isolated one. Howard provided us with a CD full of similar calls, many containing profane language and even racial slurs.
In one of the calls, the debt collector can be heard calling a man the "n-word" after threatening to dig deep into his background.
Howard says while debt collection companies have every right to go after money owed to banks and other companies, a Florida law protects consumers from calls considered harassing.
"You have to do it in a nice manner, period," says Howard, who adds most Floridians don't know their rights in these type cases.
He also adds, in some cases, people don't even owe money, and are either victims of identity theft or mistakes on the part of the collection agency.
"These people are innocent, and they can't get the calls to stop," Howard says.
On one of Howard's cases from July, he says, a debt collector called the best friend of a woman suggesting the friend had died. Ericka Cartagena of Winter Springs says her friend frantically called her brother, throwing her entire family into a panic when they couldn't reach her by phone.
"Everyone thought I was dead!" said an angry Cartagena who, to this day, has no idea why the debt collection company called. She is making payments on a used car, but says she previously made all her payments on time.
She and her attorney believe the statement suggesting her death may have been a mistake, but is often a deliberate attempt by collection companies to prompt an immediate call back from unsuspecting family members.
"To use something like that against somebody is the most egregious collection abuse that is imaginable," Howard says.
A spokesperson for the debt collection industry says he believes cases involving harassment are isolated.
"I think it's the rare exception. Every customer has the right to be treated with dignity and respect," says spokesman Adam Peterman, director of government affairs for the Association of Credit and Collection Professionals (ACA).
But Dianne McLeod says her husband, while still alive, was treated with anything but dignity and respect.
"They humiliated him, they harassed him, and they didn't care," says McLeod. "You know that if things had been handled differently by this company, he may still be here."
Now, she wants to collect, from the company she blames for harassing her husband to death.
In one of the calls, the debt collector can be heard calling a man the "n-word" after threatening to dig deep into his background.
Howard says while debt collection companies have every right to go after money owed to banks and other companies, a Florida law protects consumers from calls considered harassing.
"You have to do it in a nice manner, period," says Howard, who adds most Floridians don't know their rights in these type cases.
He also adds, in some cases, people don't even owe money, and are either victims of identity theft or mistakes on the part of the collection agency.
"These people are innocent, and they can't get the calls to stop," Howard says.
On one of Howard's cases from July, he says, a debt collector called the best friend of a woman suggesting the friend had died. Ericka Cartagena of Winter Springs says her friend frantically called her brother, throwing her entire family into a panic when they couldn't reach her by phone.
"Everyone thought I was dead!" said an angry Cartagena who, to this day, has no idea why the debt collection company called. She is making payments on a used car, but says she previously made all her payments on time.
She and her attorney believe the statement suggesting her death may have been a mistake, but is often a deliberate attempt by collection companies to prompt an immediate call back from unsuspecting family members.
"To use something like that against somebody is the most egregious collection abuse that is imaginable," Howard says.
A spokesperson for the debt collection industry says he believes cases involving harassment are isolated.
"I think it's the rare exception. Every customer has the right to be treated with dignity and respect," says spokesman Adam Peterman, director of government affairs for the Association of Credit and Collection Professionals (ACA).
But Dianne McLeod says her husband, while still alive, was treated with anything but dignity and respect.
"They humiliated him, they harassed him, and they didn't care," says McLeod. "You know that if things had been handled differently by this company, he may still be here."
Now, she wants to collect, from the company she blames for harassing her husband to death.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
HANDBAGS-THIS IS WORTH SHARING!!! PLEASE PASS THIS ON TO YOUR GRANDMOTHERS, MOMS, DAUGHTERS, GRANDDAUGHTERS AND GIRLFRIENDS !! !!
Have you ever noticed girls who set their handbags on public toilet floors, then go directly to their dining tables and set it on the table?
Happens a lot! It's not always the 'restaurant food' that causes stomach distress. Sometimes 'what you don't know will hurt you'!
Read on.............
Mom got so upset when guests came in the door and plopped their handbags down on the counter where she was cooking or setting up food. She always said that handbags are really dirty, because of where they have been.
It's something just about every woman carries with them. While we may know what's inside our handbags, do you have any idea what's on the outside? Women carry handbags everywhere; from the office to public toilets to the floor of the car. Most women won't be caught without their handbags, but did you ever stop to think about where your handbag goes during the day.
'I drive a school bus, so my handbag has been on the floor of the bus a lot,' says one woman. 'On the floor of my car, and in toilets.'
'I put my handbag in grocery shopping carts and on the floor of the toilet,' says another woman 'and of course in my home which should be clean.'
We decided to find out if handbags harbor a lot of bacteria. We learned how to test them at Nelson Laboratories in Salt Lake , and then we set out to test the average woman's handbag.
Most women told us they didn't stop to think about what was on the bottom of their handbag. Most said at home they usually set their handbags on top of kitchen tables and counters where food is prepared.
Most of the ladies we talked to told us they wouldn't be surprised if their handbags were at least a little bit dirty.
It turns out handbags are so surprisingly dirty, even the microbiologist who tested them was shocked.
Microbiologist Amy Karen of Nelson Labs says nearly all of the handbags tested were not only high in bacteria, but high in harmful kinds of bacteria. Pseudomonas can cause eye infections, staphylococcus aurous can cause serious skin infections, and salmonella and e-coli found on the handbags could make people very sick.
In one sampling, four out of five handbags tested positive for salmonella, and that's not the worst of it. 'There is fecal contamination on the handbags' says Amy. Leather or vinyl handbags tended to be cleaner than cloth handbags, and lifestyle seemed to play a role. People with kids tended to have dirtier handbags than those without, with one exception.
The handbag of one single woman who frequented nightclubs had one of the worst contaminations of all. 'Some type of feces, or possibly vomit' says Amy.
So the moral of this story is that your handbag won't kill you, but it does have the potential to make you very sick if you keep it on places where you eat. Use hooks to hang your handbag at home and in toilets, and don't put it on your desk, a restaurant table, or on your kitchen counter top.
Experts say you should think of your handbag the same way you would a pair of shoes. 'If you think about putting a pair of shoes on your counter tops, that's the same thing you're doing when you put your handbag on the counter tops.'
Your handbag has gone where individuals before you have walked, sat, sneezed, coughed, spat, urinated, emptied bowels, etc!
Do you really want to bring that home with you?
The microbiologists at Nelson also said cleaning a handbag will help. Wash cloth handbags and use leather cleaner to clean the bottom of leather handbags.
Happens a lot! It's not always the 'restaurant food' that causes stomach distress. Sometimes 'what you don't know will hurt you'!
Read on.............
Mom got so upset when guests came in the door and plopped their handbags down on the counter where she was cooking or setting up food. She always said that handbags are really dirty, because of where they have been.
It's something just about every woman carries with them. While we may know what's inside our handbags, do you have any idea what's on the outside? Women carry handbags everywhere; from the office to public toilets to the floor of the car. Most women won't be caught without their handbags, but did you ever stop to think about where your handbag goes during the day.
'I drive a school bus, so my handbag has been on the floor of the bus a lot,' says one woman. 'On the floor of my car, and in toilets.'
'I put my handbag in grocery shopping carts and on the floor of the toilet,' says another woman 'and of course in my home which should be clean.'
We decided to find out if handbags harbor a lot of bacteria. We learned how to test them at Nelson Laboratories in Salt Lake , and then we set out to test the average woman's handbag.
Most women told us they didn't stop to think about what was on the bottom of their handbag. Most said at home they usually set their handbags on top of kitchen tables and counters where food is prepared.
Most of the ladies we talked to told us they wouldn't be surprised if their handbags were at least a little bit dirty.
It turns out handbags are so surprisingly dirty, even the microbiologist who tested them was shocked.
Microbiologist Amy Karen of Nelson Labs says nearly all of the handbags tested were not only high in bacteria, but high in harmful kinds of bacteria. Pseudomonas can cause eye infections, staphylococcus aurous can cause serious skin infections, and salmonella and e-coli found on the handbags could make people very sick.
In one sampling, four out of five handbags tested positive for salmonella, and that's not the worst of it. 'There is fecal contamination on the handbags' says Amy. Leather or vinyl handbags tended to be cleaner than cloth handbags, and lifestyle seemed to play a role. People with kids tended to have dirtier handbags than those without, with one exception.
The handbag of one single woman who frequented nightclubs had one of the worst contaminations of all. 'Some type of feces, or possibly vomit' says Amy.
So the moral of this story is that your handbag won't kill you, but it does have the potential to make you very sick if you keep it on places where you eat. Use hooks to hang your handbag at home and in toilets, and don't put it on your desk, a restaurant table, or on your kitchen counter top.
Experts say you should think of your handbag the same way you would a pair of shoes. 'If you think about putting a pair of shoes on your counter tops, that's the same thing you're doing when you put your handbag on the counter tops.'
Your handbag has gone where individuals before you have walked, sat, sneezed, coughed, spat, urinated, emptied bowels, etc!
Do you really want to bring that home with you?
The microbiologists at Nelson also said cleaning a handbag will help. Wash cloth handbags and use leather cleaner to clean the bottom of leather handbags.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
R.I.P. Tito Monzon! (tio)
A death in the family leaves a void that cannot be filled. No one can ever take the place of this individual in the world. We should not try to comfort the family by saying that "it was his time anyway", or, "he was suffering". These may be words of comfort later. However, there must be time to mourn the fact that things will never be the same. One minute he was here and now he is gone. The human mind must be allowed to sit with this reality. Mourning is a necessary part of the human experience. If it is ignored, a general feeling of sadness may pervade the whole family.
When someone we love passes away,
We ache, but we go on;
Our dear departed would want us to heal,
After they are gone.
Grief is a normal way to mend
The anguish and pain in our hearts;
We need time to remember and time to mourn,
Before the recovery starts.
Let's draw together to recuperate,
As we go throught this period of sorrow;
Let's help each other, with tender care
To find a brighter tomorrow.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Spectacular California Fire Images
Smoke from the Station Fire rises over downtown Los Angeles Monday, Aug. 31, 2009.
2Smoke billows from the Station Fire in Los Angeles in this image taken from NASA's Terra satellite August 30, 2009.
A Los Angeles County fire fighter monitors hot spots as he fights the Station Fire August 30, 2009 in Acton, California.
A backfire burns near homes during the Station Fire in La Crescenta, California, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2009.
A vehicle travels past a wall of flames at the Station Fire in the Acton, California area north of Los Angeles, August 30, 2009.
Los Angeles County Sheriff deputies and residents help evacuate horses as the Station fire burns in the hills above Acton, California on Sunday, Aug. 30, 2009
A modified Martin Mars seaplane tanker aircraft drops water trying to contain a fire threat to a historic observatory on Mount Wilson northeast of Los Angeles on Tuesday, Sept. 01, 2009. Mount Wilson is home not only to the observatory but numerous television, radio and cell phone antennas serving the metropolitan area.
A U.S. Forest Service hotshot wipes his face while taking a break from fighting the the Station Fire August 31, 2009 in Tujunga, California.
A large cloud of smoke from the Station Fire is seen above Angeles National Forest as the blaze marches westward towards the communities of Sunland and Tujanga on August 31, 2009 in Los Angeles, California.
Smoke, ashes and embers fly into the air from a canyon just off Highway 2 in the Angeles National Forest Friday, Aug. 28, 2009 near La Canada Flintridge, California.
The Los Angeles skyline is obscured by smoke from the Station Fire north of the city August 31, 2009.
Firefighters look for hotspots on a burnt landscape in the Acton area in California on August 31, 2009.
Firefighters take a break during the Station Fire in La Crescenta, California, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2009.
Charred trees are silhouetted by the glow of the Station Fire August 30, 2009 in Acton, California.
A firefighter photographs caged tigers awaiting transport in a trailer as workers and volunteers evacuate animals from the Wildlife Waystation in Little Tujunga Canyon as the Station Fire draws nearer on September 1, 2009 near Tujunga, California. The wildlife sanctuary houses a large number of tigers, lions, bears, chimpanzees, mountain lions and numerous other animals in the brush-covered mountains outside of the city.
Smoke rises and ashes glow on hills that burned during the Station fire in the Acton area of Los Angeles, California August 30, 2009.
Julie Garcia, 59, and her daughter Jessi Garcia, 19, hug each other on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2009 after seeing their home destroyed by the Station Fire that swept through their neighborhood on La Paloma Canyon Road at Vogel Flat in Tujunga, California
A helicopter is just visible before large clouds of smoke from the Station Fire above Angeles National Forest on August 31, 2009 in Los Angeles, California.
A motorcycle burns during the Station Fire in the Big Tujunga area of Los Angeles, California August 29, 2009.
A helicopter carrying water passes in front of the sun as it flies over a residential area during the Station Fire in La Crescenta, California, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2009.
A firefighter looks out from the fire break that kept a fire in the Deukmejian Wilderness Park, background, from jumping into a neighborhood in the La Crescenta section of Glendale, California on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2009.
Sitting on a roof, two residents watch a wildfire burn during the Station Fire in La Crescenta, California, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2009.
Ted Hamm uses a firehose to mop up hot spots after the Station Fire swept through his property August 30, 2009 in Acton, California.
Mushrooming clouds rise to sky as the Station Fire gradually marches west towards the communities of Acton Agua, Dulce, and Sunland Tujanga on August 31, 2009 in Los Angeles, California.
Firefighters work a threatened house in the La Crescenta section of Glendale, California, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2009.
Melted metal from a vehicle that burned during the Station Fire is seen in the Tujunga area of Los Angeles, California September 1, 2009.
A smoke cloud raises from the wildfires near Mount Wilson in Los Angeles, on Monday, Aug. 31, 2009.
Fire fighters walk through thick smoke from the Station Fire August 30, 2009 in Acton, California.
The sun sets in a red sky as smoke from a wildfire enshrouds Los Angeles, California on September 1, 2009.
A deer walks through charred forest on Mount Gleason in the Angeles National Forest August 31, 2009 near Acton, California.
Firefighters start a controlled burn during the Station Fire in the Angeles National Forest beside the suburb of Glendale on the outskirts of Los Angeles city on September 1, 2009.
Spot fires glow after the Station Fire burned through August 30, 2009 in Acton, California.
A small unknown structure burns during the Station Fire in the Big Tujunga canyon area of Los Angeles, California August 29, 2009.
Parts of the front of this vehicle melted during the Station Fire in the Tujunga area of Los Angeles, California September 1, 2009.
The ruins of a home or vacaton cabin, destroyed in the Station fire in an area known as Stonyvale in Big Tujunga Canyon in the Angeles National Forest northwest of the city of Los Angeles, seen Tuesday morning, Sept. 1, 2009.
Firefighters climb up a hill during the Station Fire in La Crescenta, California, Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2009.
U.S. Forest Service firefighters monitor a backfire on August 31, 2009 in La Crescenta, California.
From a lakeside dock in Yucaipa Regional Park, the McHenry family cheers as a Sikorsky S64 Sky Crane firefighting helicopter goes "in the dip" for another load of water in Yucaipa, California on Tuesday, Sept 1, 2009. The parents and their son spent the night camping in the park after receiving a mandatory evacuation order from their nearby home.
A DC-10 converted to an air tanker drops fire retardant as the Station fire burns in the hills above Acton, California on Monday, Aug. 31, 2009.
The Station Fire moves through brush September 1, 2009 in Sylmar, California
Firefighters monitor a fire as it burns near the suburb of Glendale on the outskirts of Los Angeles city on September 1, 2009.
Angeles National Forest, in the hills outside of Los Angeles currently has several wildfires tearing through it, the largest of which - named the Station Fire - has so far burned over 140,000 acres, destroyed nearly 100 structures, and claimed the lives of two firefighters whose vehicle fell from a road into a steep canyon. Evacuation orders are in place for thousands in communities around the city, and residents of Los Angeles itself are contending with thick smoke and ash hanging in the air, causing air quality to drop to unhealthful levels in many parts. Currently, the Station Fire is estimated to be 22% contained, and favorable weather appears to be aiding the efforts of the firefighters.
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